Labor welcomes the Queensland State Government’s announcement that it will pursue the opportunity to host the 2032 Olympic Games.
Australia has a long and proud history of hosting successful major international sporting events.
From the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne to the Sydney Games in 2000, through numerous world cups and world championships, we have proven that Australia knows how to set the stage and deliver world-class sporting events on a global scale.
The 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games showcased Queensland’s major event capacity and demonstrated how great events can be delivered using existing and temporary facilities.
New International Olympic Committee (IOC) hosting guidelines mean prospective Games hosts can follow this example, reducing costs and making the benefits of hosting even more attractive.
The jobs, infrastructure, tourism and trade benefits of hosting the Olympic Games in 2032 would boost not only the Queensland economy but the national economy.
If Queensland is successful, the 10-year lead-in to the 2032 Games would provide a great platform to engaging a generation of Australian kids in sport and help boost participation so more can enjoy the health benefits of an active lifestyle.
Member for Oxley, Milton Dick, who represented Federal Labor on the ‘Team Queensland’ delegation to the IOC earlier this year, said Queenslanders loved sport and the state had a proud record of delivering Olympic medals for Australia.
“To have the opportunity to have our Aussie athletes competing at home here in Queensland is very exciting,” he said.
Queensland’s decision to put its hand up to host the Olympics in 2032 is a great step towards Australia once more being the stage for a global sports audience.
Labor looks forward to working closely with the Queensland State Government, Council of Mayors South East Queensland, Australian Olympic Committee, Federal Government and other key stakeholders to ensure the strongest possible candidature is presented to the IOC next year.